and its Economic Management. 6r 



It is plainly evident that the fruit grower of the future who 

 attempts to conduct his business without taking every means 

 to secure the aid of the industrious honey bee will be like a 

 captain attempting to carry his ship through the seas without 

 a rudder. More or less success has of course been obtained in 

 the culture of fruit in the past; but the growers have not 

 hitherto had their eyes fully opened, that they could tell why 

 the greater success, or the least profitable result, and even 

 loss, should occur. The proximity of a larger or smaller- 

 number of hives will generally be found to sufficiently explain 

 the variations. The state of the weather, and all supposed 

 enemies of the fruit gardens,- will receive far less consideration 

 when the foregoing remarks are fully appreciated and acted 

 upon. A single hive, or even a dozen, will be of little use 

 where there are large gardens and orchards. From twenty- 

 five to one hundred stocks will be needed to secure the best 

 possible results, according to the extent of the fruit farm ; and 

 even if no one on the premises understands the management 

 of bees, after defraying the expense of employing an expert 

 either occasionally, or permanently where the number nears. 

 one hundred, there will be a considerable profit on an apiary 

 so favorably situated, while the immense benefit conferred 

 upon the fruit crops will be entirely gratuitous. 



Any neighbouring bee-keeper should be encouraged, and' 

 in many cases expense may be saved by arranging with such 

 apiarist to place a few of his hives in some sheltered spot on 

 the- premises, where the bees will be close at hand during tha 

 critical period of fruit bloom. 



